3D storage bag having a 3D storage chamber

ABSTRACT

A 3D storage bag includes opposing flexible plastic front and back panels, the two opposite lateral sides of each of the flexible plastic front and back panels each having a first segment and second and third segments respectively extended from the top and bottom ends of the first segment, the first segments of the two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front and back panels being respectively sealed together, a flexible plastic top panel bonded to the flexible plastic back panel and the second segments of the two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front and back panels and defining with the flexible plastic front panel an opening, a flexible plastic bottom panel bonded to the bottom sides of the flexible plastic front and back panels and the third segments of their two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front and back panels, and a fastening tape for closing/opening the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage bags and more particularly, to a 3D storage bag, which has a 3-dimensional storage chamber defined therein for storing big storage items.

(b) Description of the Prior Art:

Collapsible storage bags may be used in houses for storing clothes, quilt and other storage items. People may use a collapsible storage bag for carrying clothes while traveling. Further, a collapsible storage bag may be provided with an exhaust valve so that a vacuum cleaner or air-suction apparatus can be used to draw air out of the collapsible storage bag, reducing the storage size and facilitating carrying or long period storage. Commercial inexpensive collapsible storage bags commonly comprise a bag body made by sealing two rectangular flexible plastic sheet members together, and a fastening tap bonded to the bag body for closing/opening an opening in one side of the bag body. The storage space defined in the bag body is a narrow space, not convenient for arrangement of storage items. This narrow space has a limited dimensional, not practical for storing big storage items, such as heavy coat or quilt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a 3D storage bag, which is made by a flexible plastic sheet material and defining therein a three-dimensional storage space for storing storage items and provided with a fastening tape for closing/opening an opening thereof and an exhaust valve for exhaust of internal air to keep the storage items in a substantially vacuum status, maintaining the quality of storage items.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a 3D storage bag comprises opposing flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel each having a top side, a bottom side and two opposite lateral sides, the two opposite lateral sides of each of the flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel each having a first segment, a second segment extended from a top end of the first segment and a third segment extended from a bottom end of the first segment, the first segments of the two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front panel and the flexible plastic back panel being respectively sealed together; a flexible plastic top panel having three of four sides thereof respectively bonded to a top side of the flexible plastic back panel and the second segments of the two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel and the other one of the four sides in proximity to and spaced from the top side of the flexible plastic front panel by an opening; a flexible plastic bottom panel having four sides thereof respectively bonded to the bottom sides of the flexible plastic front panel and the flexible plastic back panel and the third segments of the two opposite lateral sides of the flexible plastic front panel and the flexible plastic back panel; a fastening tape adapted for closing/opening the opening between the flexible plastic front panel and the flexible plastic top panel, the fastening tape comprising a male fastening tape member fixedly fastened to an inner face of the flexible plastic top panel and a female fastening tape member fixedly to an inner face of the flexible plastic front panel and fastenable with the male fastening tape; and an exhaust valve bonded to the flexible plastic front panel and adapted for exhaust of air out of the 3D storage bag.

Thus, subject to the aforesaid arrangement, the flexible plastic front panel, the flexible plastic back panel, the flexible plastic top panel, the flexible plastic bottom panel, the fastening tape and the exhaust valve are assembled together, forming a 3D storage bag having a predetermined length, width and height for storing storage items in a good order, facilitating access to storage items.

Further, a vacuum cleaner or air-suction apparatus may be used and attached to the exhaust valve to draw air out of the 3D storage bag, keeping storage items in a vacuum status. Further, a hanger may be bonded to the 3D storage bag for hanging storage items inside the 3D storage bag and hanging the 3D storage bag on a support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a 3D storage bag in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the 3D storage bag in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an operation status of the exhaust valve.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating another operation status of the exhaust valve (II).

FIG. 5 is a schematic applied view of the 3D storage bag in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention (I).

FIG. 6 is a schematic applied view of the 3D storage bag in accordance with the first ,embodiment of the present invention (II).

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a 3D storage bag in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view of the 3D storage bag in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an application example of the 3D storage bag.

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating a collapsed status of the 3D storage bag in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a 3D storage bag in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a 3D storage bag is shown comprising opposing flexible plastic front panel 1 a and back panel 1 b, a flexible plastic top panel 2, a flexible plastic bottom panel 3 and a fastening tape 4. The flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b are rectangular plastic sheet members, each having a top side 11 a; 11 b, a bottom side 12 a; 12 b and two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b. The two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b each have a first segment 131 a; 131 b, a second segment 132 a; 132 b extended from the top end of the first segment 131 a; 131 b and terminating in the associating top side 11 a; 11 b, and a third segment 133 a; 133 b extended from the bottom end of the first segment 131 a; 131 b and terminating in the associating bottom side 12 a; 12 b. The first segments 131 a; 131 b of the two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b are respectively sealed together by means of hot melt lamination. The flexible plastic top panel 2 is a rectangular plastic sheet member, having three of the four sides 21 thereof respectively bonded to the top side 11 b of the flexible plastic back panel 1 b and the second segments 132 a; 132 b of the two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and back panel 1 b and the other one of the four sides 21 thereof kept in proximity to and spaced from the top side 11 a of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a so that an opening 14 is defined in between the top side 11 a of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the associating side 21 of the flexible plastic top panel 2. The flexible plastic bottom panel 3 is a rectangular plastic sheet member, having the four sides 31 thereof respectively bonded to the bottom sides 12 a; 12 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b and the third segments 133 a; 133 b of the two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b. The fastening tape 4 is adapted for closing/opening the opening 14, comprising a male fastening tape member 41 fixedly fastened to the inner face of the top panel 2 and extending along the associating side 21 of the top panel 2 and a female fastening tape member 42 fixedly to the inner face of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and extending along the top side 11 a of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a. Subject to the aforesaid arrangement, the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and back panel 1 b, the flexible plastic top panel 2, the flexible plastic bottom panel 3 and the fastening tape 4 are assembled together, forming a 3D storage bag having a predetermined length, width and height. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 again, the 3D storage bag further comprises an exhaust valve 5 bonded to the flexible plastic front panel 1 a in communication with the three-dimensional storage space defined in the 3D storage bag. The exhaust valve 5 can be opened for enabling air to be drawn out of the 3D storage bag so that the 3D storage bag can be flattened to reduce the size for storage. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the exhaust valve 5 comprises a valve body 51, a valve flap 52 and a valve cap 53. The valve body 51 is bonded to the flexible plastic front panel 1 a, having an air passage 511 in communication between the storage space defined in the 3D storage bag and the atmosphere. The valve flap 52 is provided in one end of the air passage 511 inside the valve body 51, and movable to open/close the air passage 511. The valve cap 53 is fastened to the valve body 51 to keep the valve flap 52 in the valve body 51, having a plurality of exhaust holes 531. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the user can put clothes, quilt and/or other storage items in the three-dimensional storage space inside the 3D storage bag in a stack, and then fasten up the fastening tape 4 to close the opening 14, and then attach the nozzle tube 70 of a vacuum cleaner or any other air-suction apparatus to the valve cap 53 of the exhaust valve 5, and then operate the vacuum cleaner or air-suction apparatus to draw air out of the 3D storage bag, collapsing the 3D storage bag and reducing its size and avoiding residual gas damage to the storage items.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a 3D storage bag in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention with the exception of the location of the opening 14 and an added hanger 6. The hanger 6 is bonded to the flexible plastic front panel 1 a near one lateral side 13 a thereof, comprising an external hanging hook 61 suspending outside the 3D storage bag and an internal hanging hook 62 suspending inside the 3D storage bag. As shown in FIG. 8, the hanger 6 further comprises an exhaust valve 63 and a valve cap 64 capped on the exhaust valve 63. The exhaust valve 63 is bonded to the flexible plastic front panel 1 a near its one lateral side 13 a and fixedly mounted on the top end of the internal hanging hook 62, keeping the internal hanging hook 62 inside the 3D storage bag. The valve cap 64 is affixed to the exhaust valve 63 and the bottom end of the external hanging hook 61, holding the external hanging hook 61 on the outside of the 3D storage bag. Thus, during application of the 3D storage bag, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the user can hang suits and other storage items on the internal hanging hook 62 of the hanger 6, and then attach the nozzle tube 70 of a vacuum cleaner or any other air-suction apparatus to the exhaust valve 63, and then operate the vacuum cleaner or air-suction apparatus to draw air out of the 3D storage bag, collapsing the 3D storage bag and reducing its size and avoiding residual gas damage to the storage items.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a 3D storage bag in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the flexible plastic bottom panel 3 is bonded with the third segments 133 a; 133 b of the two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b, and then the third segments 133 a; 133 b of the two opposite lateral sides 13 a; 13 b of the flexible plastic front panel 1 a and the flexible plastic back panel 1 b are bonded together.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A 3D storage bag, comprising: opposing flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel each having a top side, a bottom side and two opposite lateral sides, the two opposite lateral sides of each of said flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel each having a first segment, a second segment extended from a top end of said first segment and a third segment extended from a bottom end of said first segment, the first segments of the two opposite lateral sides of said flexible plastic front panel and said flexible plastic back panel being respectively sealed together; a flexible plastic top panel having three of four sides thereof respectively bonded to a top side of said flexible plastic back panel and the second segments of the two opposite lateral sides of said flexible plastic front panel and flexible plastic back panel and the other one of the four sides in proximity to and spaced from the top side of said flexible plastic front panel by an opening; a flexible plastic bottom panel having four sides thereof respectively bonded to the bottom sides of said flexible plastic front panel and said flexible plastic back panel and the third segments of the two opposite lateral sides of said flexible plastic front panel and said flexible plastic back panel; and a fastening tape adapted for closing/opening the opening between said flexible plastic front panel and said flexible plastic top panel, said fastening tape comprising a male fastening tape member fixedly fastened to an inner face of said flexible plastic top panel and a female fastening tape member fixedly to an inner face of said flexible plastic front panel and fastenable with said male fastening tape.
 2. The 3D storage bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an exhaust valve bonded to said flexible plastic front panel and adapted for exhaust of air out of the 3D storage bag.
 3. The 3D storage bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said exhaust valve comprises a valve body bonded to said flexible plastic front panel and defining therein an air passage in communication between the space inside the 3D storage bag and the atmosphere, a valve flap set in said air passage inside said valve body and movable to open/close said air passage, and a valve cap fastened to said valve body to keep said valve flap in said valve body, said valve cap having a plurality of exhaust holes.
 4. The 3D storage bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hanger bonded to said flexible plastic front panel near one side thereof, said hanger comprising an external hanging hook suspending outside the 3D storage bag and an internal hanging hook suspending inside the 3D storage bag.
 5. The 3D storage bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hanger further comprises an exhaust valve bonded to said flexible plastic front panel and fixedly mounted on a top end of said internal hanging hook and a valve cap capped on the exhaust valve and affixed to a bottom end of said external hanging hook.
 6. The 3D storage bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third segments of the two opposite lateral sides of said flexible plastic front panel and said flexible plastic back panel are bonded together. 